Root crop harvester conveyor



April v 6 1965 L. R. McRoBERT 3,176,331

nooT onor HARVESTER coNvEYoR original Filed Feb. e, 19Go n 2sheets.sheet '1- TI E.' 1

2.9 9d* rm:

O wr ml* In 01 N :el no 0* ai n N Af/02| m w lNvzN-ron 5; E Leon ausROBERT A'I'I'CRNEY April 6, 1965 l.. R. McRoBERT ROOT CROP HARVESTERCONVEYOR original med Feb. s. leso 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVINTOR LEGN R. MGROBERT ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,176,831 RGU'I ERG? HARVESTERCNVEYUIX Leon R. Mcl'iohert, Wiiiiamston, Mich., assigner to FMCCorporation, San lose, Calit., a corporation oi' Delaware @riginalapplication heb. 9, 1966, Ser. No.. 7,645, now Patent No. 3,125,697,dated Mar. 17, 1964-. Divided 'and this application Feb. 15, 1962, Ser.No. 173,546 Claims. (Cl. 19d-195) The present invention appertains tomachines for harvesting a root crop such as potatoes, and relates moreparticularly to an improved conveyor for conveying plant tops and rootsin a root crop harvester.

This application is a division of the pending application of Leon R.McRobert, Serial No. 7,645 filed February 9, 1960, Patent No. 3,125,097.

Although the conveyor of the present invention will be described in thespecification and referred to in the claims as used in harvestingpotatoes it is to be particularly understood that it can be successfullyemployed in conveying any of several different root crops or crops of aclosely related character.

An object of the present invention is to provide an irnproved conveyorfor root crops.

Another obiect is to provide an improved conveyor chain particularlyadapted for use in apparatus of the type mentioned.

These and other objects and advantage of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a potato harvester to whichthe apparatus of the present invention is operatively attached.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the portion of the conveyorchain included between lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan, partly broken away, of the conveyor chain shown inFIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective showing the connectionbetween two links at one side of the conveyor chain shown in FIGS. 2 and3 with the links in different positions and viewed from above in thedirection indicated by the arrow d in FIG. 3.

The potato harvester 2li comprises a chassis 22 (FIG. 1) havingtransport wheels 24 (only one shown, FIG. 1). The harvester is movedalong the rows of potato plants (not shown) on the wheels 24 in thedirection indicated by the arrow 26 by any well known means, and digsthe potato plants in two adjoining rows, by means not shown. Thepotatoes,their plant tops and roots along with some clods, loose earthand rocks are delivered onto a pickup conveyor which is upwardly andrearwardly inclined and includes two similar, endless conveyor chains inside by side relation, each having a plurality of equally spaced,transverse flights. The upper end 34 of the conveyor 26 is supported ata suitable height by a generally upright frame 46 which extends betweenand is secured to the chassis 22 and to the housing 44.

The pickup conveyor 28 is driven in the `direction indicated bythe arrow43 by achain and sprocket drive Sil. A chain 52 of the drive 5d isconnected to a source of suitable power (not shown) on the harvester Ztland is trained about a sprocket 54 of a double sprocket 55 which isfreely rotatable on a drive shaft 36. A spring biased, overload clutch56 releasably connects the double sprocket 55' in driving engagementwith the shaft 38 to drive the same by means of the chain 52.

As the potatoes, the plant tops and the roots are carried upward by thepickup conveyor, many clods and stones and much of the loose earth fallsbetween the closely spaced liights back to the ground while the vine-Achains 62 is shown.

lhdl Iatented Apr. 6, i955 ice after be referred to as the trasheliminator conveyor 6d.

The rectangular frame 58 comprises two opposite angle bars 66 one onlybeing shown in FIG. 1, and extending longitudinally of the conveyor 64,and a central, longitudinally extending bar 70 located midway betweenthe angle bars 66. The angle bars 66 have elongate, upstanding walls 72lixed thereto which are secured adjacent the front end of the frame 58,and provide aligned extensions thereof. As seen in FIG. 1, the adjacentend portion of the central bar 7U extends beneath the housing 4d and hasan opstanding bracket 76 bolted at 78 to a reinforcing bar Si! extendinglongitudinally of and secured to the housing 44. The ends of the anglebars 66 and the bar 70 at the inner or front of the conveyor 64 are thusheld in laterally spaced relation at equal intervals. Vertical plates82, fixed to and projecting downwardly from the angle bars 66 and 68 andthe bar 70', respectively, at the outer or rear end of the frame 58, aresecured to a transverse beam 8S which cooperates with the housing 44 toretain these bars in parallel relation. Opposite support legs 90, fixedto and extending between the plates 82 and the chassis 22 hold the rearend of the frame 53 at a suitable height above the discharge end of thepickup conveyor. The upwardly inclined frame 58 supports the conveyor 64in a manner to be more fully explained, with the side walls 72 and 74 inxed positions at opposite sides thereof.

The two endless chains 62 of the trash eliminator conveyor 6d eachcomprises a series of interlocked links 94 of correspondingconstruction. Each link 94 (FIG. 3) is of U-shaped conguration andincludes a bight portion 96 from which opposite legs 47 project. Thebight portions 96 have resilient coverings 9S of material such as rubberand are equally spaced throughout the chains 62. The adjacent bights 96,which extend the full width of the chains function as transverselyextending llights and are spaced apart to provide openings 99therebetween of a size permitting the largest potatoes to pass easilythrough the chains 62.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 a portion of the lower run of the It will be seen thatthe links 94 of the chain 62 are of corresponding U-shaped congurationand are each formed from a bar having a circular cross section. Theopposite legs 97 of each link project generally at right angles to theassociated bight 96 and project in leading relation with resepct theretoin the chain 62 (FIG. 1). The juncture 262 between the bight portion 96and each leg 97 (FIG. 3) includes a rounded portion 204 adjoining lthebight 96 `and a straight, inclined stop portion 266. The inclined stopportion 266 extends inwardly of the link from the rounded portion 204toward the longtiudinal centerline of the chain. A central portion 216of each leg 97 extends toward the leading end 268 thereof from theinclined stop portion 206 at substantially a right angle to theassociated bight portion 96. In this way the central portions 210 ofeach ilink 94 are olfset inwardlyot the link from the ends of the bightportion a distance equal to the thickness of the bar from which the linkis made. Beyond the `central portion 210, an end portion 2l2 of each leg97 includes a downward, return bend 2id- (FIGS. 2 and 3) that Vthelongitudinal ait/anal (FIGS. 2 and 4) of approximately 180, therebyproviding each leg with an elongate hook 2id. The hook 216 includes astraight end portion 213, hereinafter called the point, which is locatedbetween the bend 2M and the terminal end 220 of the associated leg. AsVshown best in FIG. 2, the point 218 diverges from the bend'Zlt withrespect to the central portion 230. It will be apparent axis of thegenerally cylindrical point 218 and the -axis of the cylindrical centralportion 210 of each leg 97 define a plane indicated by the broken line221 (FIG. 3) and extending at a right angle to a plane indicated by thebroken line 223 (FIG.

Y 2) and including the axes of the associated bight portion jcentralportions 210 of the two legs of each 96 and .the link.V The hooks216 yofeach link 94 receive in engagement with the bends 2M thereof thebight portion 9e of the adjacent preceding link 94, adjacent theopposite junctures 2M, to pivotally interconnect the links. When thelinks 94 are so connected, the -bights 96 extend transversely of thechain 62 and the central portions 2li? and the points 2lb of the legs 97are aligned longitudinally of the chain and are adapted to engage thesprockets 196, to maintain lateral alignment of the chains 62.

It is easily possible for the interconnected links of known chains ofthe present type to slide toward each other and become unhooked if thelegs of one link are swung about rtne axis of their bight portion 9o toapproximately any position within an arc of more than 180 relative tothe legs of a link connected therewith. For this reason the legs 97 ofthe links 94 are each provided with an abutment 222 to prevent the linksof the chain from becoming unhooked during use.

The abutment 222 of each leg 97 is inclined outward from the free end268 and away from plane 221 in the plane 223. The outer end 224 of eachabutment 222 is located opposite the associate point 2118 and islaterally onset from the point 218 and return bend 21d. The distancebetween the ends 22d of the opposite abutments 222 of each link 941i issubstantially the same as the width of the links at the oppositejuncturesl 2x92. Thus, it will be apparent-from FIGS. 3 and 4 that,during operation of the harvester 20, iftwo links 94a, and 94!) (FIGS. 2and 4) of the chain 62 Amove into the position shown in dotydash lines(FIG. 2) these links are prevented by the abutments 222a (one shown,FIG. 4) from moving toward each other. Any attempt by these links, whenso positioned, to move toward each other and `become disconnected isprevented by engagement of one or both stop portions 2do ofthe link 9d!)(FIG. 4) with one or both abutments 222g of the link 94a.

It is to be understood that, although the abutments 222 do preventaccidental disconnection of the link-s 9d while the chain 62 is 'in use,they do not prevent disconnection ofthe links 94 when two suchinterconnected links are pivoted into a position such as that shown indotted lines (FIG. 2) which is opposite to that shown in the dot-dashlines. When two interconnected links are in the positions of the linksshown in dotted lines they can easily be disconnected by lmoving theselinks tov-Jard each other. The manner of connecting the links 9d isapparent from the foregoing description.

It will be `apparent that the trash eliminator 57 operates efficientlyto separate potatoes from the trash and prevent the build-up of debrison the chute floor 134-. Additionally, the configuration of the links 94assures that the links will remain connected in the chains 62 duringharvesting operations.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described it will be understood that the apparatus of the presentinvention is capable of modiiicatio-n and variation without departingfrom the principles of the invention and that the scope of the inventionshould be limited only by the scope and proper interpretation of theclaims appended hereto.

The invention having thu-s been described, what is believed to be newand desired Patent is:

1. In a conveyor, a chain having a plurality of interconnected linkseach comprising a bight portion, opposite legs projecting from saidbight portion, each leg including a straight central portion disposed ina first plane extending longitudinally of the leg and a stop portionadjacent said bight portion and having a contact area in a second planespaced from said first plane and generally parallel thereto, a returnbend in each leg spaced from the terminal end thereof and providing theassociated Vleg with a hook, the hooks or" each link connecting the sameto the bight portion of an adjacent link of the chain, each of saidhooks having an end portion extending in said first plane between saidreturn bend and said terminal end of the associated leg, and an abutmenton each leg spaced from said bight portion and having a contact areadisposed in said second plane, the contact area ofl an abutment on a legof one link being engageable by the contact area of the stop portion ofthe associated leg of the adjacent link during relative pivotal movementof said links in oneangular direction about an axis defined by the bightportion of said associated link.

2. In a conveyor, a chain having a plurality of interconnected linkseach comprising a bight portion having opposite legs projectingtherefrom, each leg being disposed in a first plane extendinglongitudinally of the link, a stop portion at the junction of said bightportion and each leg and having a contact area disposed in spacedrelation to the plane of the leg, a return bend in each leg spaced fromthe terminal end thereof and providing each leg with a hook remote fromsaid bight portion, the hooks of each link connecting the same to thebight portion of an ado be protected by Letters `jacent link of thechain, each of said hooks having an end portion extending between saidreturn bend and Vsaid terminal end of the'associated leg, and anabutment on each leg spaced from the bight portion and opposite theassociated end portion, said abutments of each link being opposite eachother and having contact areas disposed outwardly from said legs in theplanes of the contact areasV of the stop portions of the associated legsof the adjacent link to engage said Contact areas to prevent the linksof the chain from disconnecting incident to relative pivoting movementof the links in one angular direction about the axis defined by thebight portion of said adjacent link.

3. In a conveyor, a chain having a plurality of interconnected linkseach comprising a bight portion of predetermined length, opposite legsof uniform length projecting from opposite ends of said bight portion,each leg including an inclined portion extending from said bight portionto a central portion having parallel relation with the `central portionof the other leg and spaced therefrom a shorter distance than saidpredetermined length of said bight portion, a return bend in each legspaced from the terminal end thereof and providing each leg with a hook,the hooks of each link connecting the same to the bight portion of anadjacent link of the chain, each of said hooks having a point extendingbetween said return bend and said terminal end of the associated leg,said point and said central portion of each leg providing guide surfacesextending in a plane at a right angle to a plane dened by the associatedcentral portions, and an abutment on each leg opposite the associatedpoint, said abutments being opposite each other and being disposedoutwardly from said legs beyond the planes in which the associatedcentral portions and the points of the legs extend, the distance betweenthe outer ends of said abutment being greater than the predeterminedlength of said bight portion to enable said inclined portions of onelink to engage the abutments of a link connected to the hooks of saidlinks of the chain from disconnecting.

4. In a conveyor, a chain having a plurality of interconnected linkseach comprising a bight portion, opposite legs projecting from saidbight portion, each leg including a straight central portion extendingin a iirst plane and an inclined portion extending inwardly from theouter end of the bight portion to said central portion, a return bend ineach leg spaced from the terminal end thereof and providing theassociated leg with a hook, the hooks of each link connecting the sameto the bight portion of an adjacent link of the chain, each of saidhooks having a point extending in said tirst plane between said returnbend and said terminal end of the associated leg, and an abutment on oneleg of each link opposite the associated point on said one leg, saidabutment of each link being adapted to engage the inclined portion of aleg of the adjacent link When interconnected links are pivoted in onedirection to thereby prevent the links of the chain from moving to alink-disconnecting position, and said point being arranged to permitsaid inclined portion to pass said point and move towardlink-disconnecting position.

5. In a conveyor, a chain link of U-shaped configuration comprising abight portion having opposite legs projecting therefrom in a rst plane,a stop portion at the junction of each leg and said bight portion spacedoutwardly from said plane, a return bend in each leg spaced from theterminal end thereof and providing each leg with a hook remote from saidbight portion, each hook having an end portion extending between saidreturn bend and said terminal end thereof, said end portion and saidreturn bend of each leg providing a guide surface extending in a planeat a right angle to said lrst plane, and an abutment on each leg spacedfrom said bight portion and opposite the associated end portion, saidabutments being opposite each other, each abutment projecting outwardlyfrom its leg beyond the plane in which the end portion thereof extendsto engage the stop portion on a leg of the associated link incident torelative pivoting movement of the links in one angular direction aboutan axis defined by the bight portion of said associated link.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,408,969 3/ 22Aspinwall 209-308 FOREIGN PATENTS 848,028 9/52 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, ERNEST A. FALLER, IR.,

Examiners.

1. IN A CONVEYOR, A CHAIN HAVING A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED LINKS EACH COMPRISING A BIGHT PORTION, OPPOSITE LEGS PROJECTING FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION, EACH LEG INCLUDING A STRAIGHT CENTRAL PORTION DISPOSED IN A FIRST PLANE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE LEG AND A STOP PORTION ADJACENT SAID BIGHT PORTION AND HAVING A CONTACT AREA IN A SECOND PLANE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PLANE AND GENERALLY PARALLEL THERETO, A RETURN BEND IN EACH LEG SPACED FROM THE TERMINAL END THEREOF AND PROVIDING THE ASSOCIATED LEG WITH A HOOK, THE HOOKS OF EACH LINK CONNECTING THE SAME TO THE BIGHT PORTION OF AN ADJACENT LINK OF THE CHAIN, EACH OF SAID HOOKS HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING IN SAID FIRST PLANE BETWEEN SAID RETURN BEND AND SAID TERMINAL END OF THE ASSOCAITED LEG, AND AN ABUTMENT ON EACH LEG SPACED FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION AND HAVING A CONTACT AREA DISPOSED IN SAID SECOND PLANE, THE CONTACT AREA OF AN ABUTMENT ON A LEG OF ONE LINK BEING ENGAGEABLE BY THE CONTACT AREA OF THE STOP PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED LEG OF THE ADJACENT LINK DURING RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKS IN ONE ANGULAR DIRECTION ABOUT AND AXIS DEFINED BY THE BIGHT PORTION OF SAID ASSOCIATED LINK. 